Self-player instrument.



W. B. FLEMING. SELF PLAYER INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21. 190B.

Patented-May 16, 1911.

2 SHEETS- HESS 1.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented ma 16, 1911.

IIIVEITBR W. B FLEMING. .SELF PLAYER. INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED nov. 21, 190B.

' innisis WILLIAM B. FLEMING, 0F SQUTH P ASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

SELF-PLAYER INSTRUMENT.

Specification of 'Letterslatent.

Patented May 16, 1911.-

Appliqation filed November 27, 1908. Serial No. 464,521;

To all whom it rnay' concern: v

' Be it known that I, IVILLIAM B. FLEMING,

a citizen of the United States, ,residing'in the city. of South Pasadena, State of Cali- 5 fornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Player Instruments,

of which the following is a specification.

. My invention relates to an improvement in self-player instruments, and it has for its object to provide meanswhereby the operating parts of the instrument may be controlled so [as to regulate the force with which the hammer strikes the strings of a piano or similar instrument and whereby the tones produced may be modified and modulated so as to more nearly reproduce and represent the toneswhich may be produced bya skilled performer upon a p1ano or similar instru- 'ment. Y

A convenient.embodiment of my invention 1 is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. The novelfeatures of this and all other embodiments which come within the scope bf my invention I have endeavored to point out with particularity in the appended claims.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a transversevertical section of a self-player piano, provided with my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a pneumatic-regulator de vice, including portions of air tubes connect- 'ed to the regulator;" Fig; 3 is a plan view of the pneumatic regulator shown in F ig. 2;

Fig. ljis atransverse section of the pneu- -matic'regulator, certain parts thereof occupying a different position relatively to each other from what is shown in Fig-2; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of a modified construction of adjustable controlling mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

-Refeiring to the drawings :1 designates the framework of the instrument; 2 designates a key ;.3 designates a hammer; desig nates a jack; and 5 designates a damper, all ,of the said parts being of usual construction. l0 designates valve mechanism, communleating through tubes, one of which is shown at 11 in Fig. 1, with a tracker board (not shown).- 4

12 designates one of a number of power neumatics which,.together with the valve mechanism 10, is of any knownconstru'c tion. i The-hammers are operated by means of their respective jacks, one of which-only1s shown in the drawings; It willj'be underend of the key.

stood that the -usual number of hammers, jacks, and the operating parts connected thereto are employed. Only one train or set of these parts is shown in the drawings, as

it is "not necessary to my inventidn to show all the parts of a self-player piano. The de-' scription' of the same in connection withfone train or one set of hammers, v1 acks, keys, andtheir connections, is descriptiveof till the rest and by thus confining the drawingsthe showing of the invention is simplified. The

jack a is pivotally connectedto a pivoted lever 15 which is adapted to be operated when the piano or similar instu-rnient is being mechanically played by means of a rod 16 which is controlled and operated by meansv of the power pneumatic 12. The movement of the lower side of thepneumatic 12 which is connected to the rod I16 sions movement of the latter and its upper I end strikes the lower sideof an adjustable stopl'? secured upon the inner end of the lever 15. Itwill be understood also, that the lever 15 maybe operated by the keys 2 through the. action of a rod or bar 20, the lower end of which is'located in contact with a member or portion 21 carried by the inner It is obvious that the raising of. the inner end of the key occasions an upward movement of the part 20 to operate the lever 15 and its connected jack 4.

It is desirable to'control and to limit the upward movement of't-he rod 20 and the partsconnected thereto, including the jack 4, so as to control the striking forc'eof the hammer 3, and this is accomplished by me in the following manner :-'I provide a stop bar bar 30. To connect the rod 32- to the bar '30,

I provide fa short rod -86 which is fitted 1 pivotally inza seat as indicated the bar 30 and. is'heldiin place by means 'of a'v plate 37 which extends thereover as shown n Fig. 1.- The inner edge of-the pivotedbar 3O is provided with a felt or other suitable contact 40, with whichthe uppersidegjofmember 41 is adapted to contact and wh ch is adjustably secured to the rod'QO. nw u be seen that the position of the inner edge of la'tor varies with the osition of the wheel70 the bar may be adjusted to different heights and locations by means of the rods 32-35 and the bell cranklever intermediate the said rods and that therefore the upward movement of the rod 20 may be limited and varied as desired, thus limiting and varying the upward movement of the lever 15 under the influence of the power pneumatic 12.

Cooperating with the mechanism just described, I have' provided an additional means for controlling the loudness or volume of the sounds produced upon a self-playing piano or similar instrument, which means is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and consists of a pneumatic regulator consisting of the opposite members 50 and 51 hinged together at 52. The edges of the members 50 and 51 are connected by means of flexible material which permits of relative movement between the said members. The member 51 is provided with valves 53 which are adapted to close ports or openings 5% in the member 50. In order to hold the valves downwardly in the position indicated in Figs. 2 and at, I have provided rods 55 which extend through the member 51 and also through the valves 53 and have coiled about the said rods springs 56 which are located between the lower side of the member 51 and the valves 53 and are adapted to hold the valves downwardly as indicated in the said Figs. 2 and 3, but are also adapted to permit a vertical movement of the valves upon the rods 55 by the compression and expansion of the springs. Upon reference to Fig. 3 it will be noted that two of these valves are provided. This is for the purpose of insuring a free outlet for the air which enters the regulator. The a is drawn by suction out of the regulator. ahat is out of the space between the mono 21's 50 and 51, through a tube or pipe 60 means of a bellows (not shown) of any known construction.

61 designates a tube or pipe v-shich is connected to the valve mechani m 10 in the usual manner (the connection not being shown). It will be understood that the air passes from the valve mechanism 10 through the tube 61 to the regulator in a manner well known.

In order to regulate the force or power necessary to lower or carry the member 51 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 2, I have provided a rod or bar 65 which is located above and parallel to the upper side of the member 51, and is connected to the latter by means of a rod GG -and a bracket 67. i

designates a grooved wheel which rides underneath the bar 65, which wheel is connected to a rod 71, which extends to and is supported upon a spring 72. The lifting or supporting effect of the spring 72 through the rod 71 upon the member 51 of the reguupon the bar 65. hen do wheel 70 is in the position indicated a". th right in dotted lines in Fig. 2, it will be unu rstood that the lifting or supporting effect is relatively small, due to the nearness of the said wheel to the pivot 52 of the member 51. As the wheel 70 is moved to the left from the said dotted line position, it will be understood that its lifting and supporting effect or power increases according to a well known law in mechanics so that when it reaches the dotted line position indicated at the left of Fig.1 of the drawings, the lifting or supporting effect or power of the said spring is rela-' tively great. By thus varying the position of the said wheel, I vary the force necessary to carry the member 51 to its lowermost position indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. As a result a larger quantity and volume of.air is necessary to be removed from and through the space between the members 50 and 51 to permit the closing down of the member 51 when the wheel is in the left hand dotted position than when it is in the right hand dotted position. and it will be understood that such force varies 'an infinite number of times, depending upon the infinite number of positions to which the wheel 70 may be moved along the bar 65. By thus varying the quantit; and volume of air, the action of the power pneumatic 12 is affected, being accelerated and occasioning an increase in the force of the blow of the hammer when and asthe quantity and volume of air passing through the regulator is increased. and retarding or decreasmg the speed of theaction or operation of the pneumatic and diminishing the force of the blow of the hammer when and as the quantity and volume of air passing through the regulator is decreased.

For the purpose of shifting the wheel 70, I provide the rod 75 which extends to the front of the instrument, and by means of which the said wheel may be moved back and forth upon the rod 05.

By combining the 'jn'eumatic regulator with the mechanism previously described for controlling the throw of the jack and the hammer, I am enabled to control and operate the parts so as to secure the pleasing effect of the human touch and execution.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified construction of the connection between the rod or bar 32 and the stop bar 30. In the construction shown in this figure, I have provided a recess or cut out portion SO and have connected a spring 81 to the bar 30 which spring extends over the said recess or cut out portion and engages loosely with the shank or body portion of a screw 82. The rod 32 is connectcdto the bar 30 by means of a screw 83. The portion of the spring beyond the screw 82 is adapted to contact with the upwardly, 1 decrease theshook incident to the striking of the adjustable stop 41 directly against the buffer or pad iOshownin Fig. 1 orwith the buffer or pad S ltshownin F ig. 5.

Having thus explained the nature of my invent1o11, and described a way of constructing'a'ndusing the same withoutattempting to set forth all oft-he forms in which it may be made.- or all of the modes of its use, what I claim is 1. In. a self-player instrument, the combination of the hammer actuating mechanism, aregulator, means operatively con- 'necting the said hammer actuating mechanism and the said regulator, the said regu- -lator including a'cha-mber having air inlet and outlet passages, means for closing one of said passages and means for varying the force necessary to close the said passage whereby the speed and striking force. of the hammer actuating mechanism may be varied, thesaid last mentioned means comprising a; spring, a connection between the said spring and a movable part of thesaid regulator and means for varying the point of connection between the said spring and the said part. I

2. In a self-player piano, the combination of a. power pneumatic means for limiting the extent of movement of said power pneumatic, hammen actuating mechanism connected with the said, pneumatic,.a regulator communicating withithe said power pneu: matic to control the rapidity of its action, and means for adjusting the said regulator for'the purpose of varying thevolume of air which passes through it and thereby adjusting the speed or'rapidity of action of the said pneumatic. the said last mentioned means comprising a swlngingspring supported member having connection with amovable'part of saidregulator, and means for varvingthe position of said spring-supported member with respectto said movable part.

3. In a self-player piano, the combination of a power pneumatic, hammer actuating mechanism connected to the said pneumatic ueuieaoui go insane sip .dtlrrnuqao; suueur of the said pneumatic and the said hammer actuating mechanism, and means for regulatingand controlling the rapidity ofmove- 'mcnt of the said pneumatic; and the said actuating mechanism, the said last mentioned means comprising a pneumatically operated device, a spring, a: connection be.-

pneumatic, means for regulating and co necting means andthe 'said'movable ni'einbier v trolling the speed of movement of the said of connection between the said hinged me tween the said spring and alniovablej of the sand device, and means tor varying the ponit of connection between the said spring and the said movable part."

4. In a selit-play er piano, the combination ofhammer actuatmg mechanism, a power trolling the rapidity of inevement or ac'ti oi oft-he said pneumatic, the sa d meanscol prising an air controlled device; i in a movable member, a sprmg,' meansfforff connecting said spring to the said ,mov;

able member, and means for adjusting the point of connection between the'said con? for the purpose setforth.

, In a self-player piano, the -comb inatlon on a power pneumatic, means for cjon-" pneumatic, the said means comprising nected tothesaid hinged member, the point her and the saidadjustable means being movable toward and from the position of the hinge so as to decrease and increase'the power of the said regulator, and means op eratively connected to said pneumatic and actuated thereby to occasion musical" sounds. E

6.; In a self-player piano, the combination of hammer actuating mechanism, a power pneumatic co-acting w th sa1d mechan1sn1,-

means for limiting the. extent of "n'iovcmentof the said pneumatic, means for regulating and controlling the speedof movement ,of the said power pneumatic, the said regulah ing means comprising a member movable about a pivot, means for exerting a variable supporting or holding force upon the said movabl m 'llJQI, and means for adjustin the said'ls mentioned means toward an, from the said pivot so as to decrease and iiicrease the power of the said regulating means. v v

'TIn. a self-player instrument, the combination of hammer actuating mechanisnn'a 'power pneumatic associated with the said hammer actuating mechanism and having a part adapted to actuate the saidhammer mechanism, a regulator for controlling the speed of movement of the said power pneumatmth'e said regulator comprising a collapsible chamber having movable and stationary sides, the said movableside having pivotal connection at one edge to the said stzltionary side and the said chamber having air inlet: and outlet passage ways, and the said movable side supporting a valve which is adapted to closeone of the said passage ways when the said movable side is moved 25 toward the stationary side, an adjustable spring supported device for exerting a lift 1ng force upon the said .movahle side, and

means formoving the aid levice'toward and from the hmgededge of the said mov- 8 hinged member, and adjustable means con able side whereby the force necessary to 00- casion movement of the said movable side toward the stationary side may be varied.

' In a self-player instrument, the combination of a regulator comprising a pivoted member, power pneumatics, a movable device for regulating the action of said regulator and thereby increasing or decreasing the wind pressure on the said pneumatics, the said movable device having operative connection with said pivoted member, springsupporting means for supporting the said movable device, and means for moving the said movable device toward and from the pivot of said pivoted member to vary the everage of the said spring-supporting means with respect to the pivot of said pivoted member and thereby control the action of said regulator.

9. In a self-player instrument, thecombination of a power pneumatic and means operatively connected to said pneumatic and actuated thereby to cause musical sounds with a regulator, means for controlling the action of said regulator, the said means comprising a movable wheel having operative connection with'the said regulator, a spring, and a flexible connection between the said wheel and the said spring.

10. In self-player instruments, the combination of hammer actuating mechanism, power pneumaties having connection with the said hammer actuating mechanism to actuate the same, and means for controllin the wind pressure in said pneumatics, suci means comprising a chamber, air inlet and outlet passage ways communicating with said chamber, a valve for closing one of said passage ways which valve is supported, upon a pivotally movable member, a springsupported device having connection with said pivotal member, and means for moving said device toward and from the pivotal point of said pivotally movable member whereby the force or pressure necessary to close said valve is varied to thereby vary the wind pressure in the said pneumatics.

11. In a self-player instrument the combination of a power pneumatic and means operatively connected to said pneumatic and actuated thereby to cause musical sounds with a regulator com arising a pivoted member, means for contro ling the action of said regulator, the said means comprising a wheel having connection with said pivoted member, and means for causing movement of said wheel toward and from the pivot of said pivoted member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, Ihave hereunto signed my name this 24th day of November, A. D. 1908.

\VILLIAM -B. FLEMING.

In the presence of- CYRUS N. ANDERSON, S. SALOME BROOKE. 

